WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. (KOIN) — The Hillsboro man convicted of pushing his girlfriend off a balcony was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison Tuesday afternoon.
Judge Andy Erwin sentenced 27-year-old Jordan Adam Sutherland to 140 months after learning that Sutherland continued to violate court orders and contacted his victim from jail since being convicted of multiple domestic violence crimes.
During his conviction on Feb. 16, the Washington County District Attorney’s Office said Sutherland was seen pushing his girlfriend — the mother of his infant son — off their 3rd floor balcony in September 2017.
Witnesses told investigators that Sutherland and his girlfriend had been arguing loudly and then they heard her yell, “Don’t hurt me!” before he pushed her with both hands. She landed on concrete and witnesses, who initially thought she was dead, reported a large pool of blood around her head.
She was treated for a fractured spine and large laceration on her head, which was closed with 14 staples.
On Tuesday, Senior Deputy District Attorney Jeff Lesowski said by Sutherland continuously violating court orders, it indicated that he has little regard for the law and the court’s rules. He also argued Sutherland presents an ongoing danger to the victim and the couple’s child.
However, the victim asked for the minimum possible sentence to be imposed.
Sutherland argued that he had nothing done wrong — claiming he had broken the victim’s jaw in self-defense and that “I never pushed her off that balcony, sir, I was trying to save her life.”
As he imposed the sentence, Judge Erwin said Sutherland lashes out from “pure anger,” and that it was only luck that saved him from “standing before this court convicted of murder.”